Mu Chen's Relief, Tang Wulin's Way of Expressing Admiration

Tang Wulin froze in place.

The excitement and confidence on his face solidified in an instant.

His eyes widened into perfect circles.

His mouth hung slightly agape, yet he could not utter a single sound.

His mind buzzed, leaving only one thought echoing frantically:

Completed three years ago?

Doesn't that mean... he was only six years old when he did it?

This... how is this possible?

How could a person at six years old...

A massive sense of shock and disparity washed over him like a cold tide, instantly drowning him.

He could hardly believe it, blurting out, "This is impossible... Master, you aren't lying to me, are you?"

Cen Yue watched Tang Wulin's thunderstruck, soul-lost expression and felt a pang of sympathy.

Mu Chen patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder, his tone gentle yet carrying unquestionable authority: "Little guy, don't let your imagination run wild. Do you really think an Eight-Star Saint Craftsman like me would lie to you about something like this?"

These words were like a bucket of ice water dumped over his head, jolting Tang Wulin awake.

That's right.

An Eight-Star Saint Craftsman!

A pinnacle existence in the world of forging!

How could such a figure lie just to belittle a child?

Tang Wulin slowly lowered his head.

Shock and disappointment churned within him.

After the initial bewilderment and loss, he began to understand Mang Tian's good intentions.

He finally understood why his master had always remained silent whenever he pressed for details about that genius.

It turned out it wasn't because he feared Tang Wulin would slack off, but because he was worried the truth would crush his confidence entirely!

After a long silence.

Tang Wulin slowly raised his head, his eyes holding a final glimmer of struggle and desperate hope.

He looked at Mu Chen, his voice dry: "Master Mu Chen... that... that genius who completed the Thousand Refinement... who... who is he?"

He now desperately wanted to know the identity of that legendary monster of a blacksmith who had created such an incredible miracle at the age of six!

Before Mu Chen could answer.

Mu Xi, standing to the side, couldn't help but let out a giggle.

She looked at Tang Wulin's shocked, bewildered, and pitiful expression and found it particularly amusing.

She stepped forward, a playful smile on her face, and reached out a slender finger to gently tap Tang Wulin's forehead: "What a silly boy."

"Who else could it be?"

"Didn't you already meet him in my brother's dormitory this morning!"

"So... it really was Brother Yao Chuan."

Tang Wulin muttered to himself. Although he had a vague suspicion before Mu Xi pointed it out, when the name was truly spoken by her, he still felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to his scalp, his body stiffening involuntarily.

The image of Yao Chuan in his heart instantly became even taller, more mysterious, and unreachable.

So, not only was he brilliant in literature, but in forging, he was terrifyingly monstrous!

Cen Yue watched the devastated Tang Wulin and sighed inwardly. He stepped forward and patted his shoulder; it felt heavy, carrying the thinness characteristic of a youth and his current rigidity:

"Alright, Wulin, don't take it too much to heart. That kid Yao Chuan... he is an anomaly, not to be judged by common standards. You are already very, very excellent; completing a Thousand Refinement on Heavy Silver at nine years old is stunning enough. Don't be overly saddened. Keep working hard, and your future will be equally limitless."

These words were meant to comfort Tang Wulin, but were they not also meant to comfort himself?

After all, Mu Chen could remain so calm and composed, accepting Yao Chuan's monstrous nature, because he possessed such a heaven-defying disciple himself.

And he, Cen Yue...

Thinking of this, a strange, inexplicable fire flared up in Cen Yue's heart.

Just then, he saw his own disciple—a young man in his early twenties who was still struggling to make progress toward the Thousand Refinement—poking his head around the corner.

His face darkened. He strode over and unleashed a torrent of scolding: "What are you looking at! Look at Wulin! Then look at yourself! You're twenty already and haven't even touched the threshold of Thousand Refinement! Has everything I taught you been fed to the dogs? Go back! Extra training! If you don't forge this piece of Iron Essence to the peak of Hundred Refinement today, you aren't eating! Get out!"

The young disciple was left bewildered and aggrieved, shrinking his neck and scurrying away in a panic.

Behind him, Mu Chen watched the scene of Cen Yue venting his frustrations on his disciple, shaking his head helplessly, though his eyes were filled with deep emotion.

He was truly fortunate—fortunate that he had possessed the eye for talent to decisively take Yao Chuan as his disciple the moment he began to shine.

Otherwise, missing out on such a peerless piece of raw jade would likely have been the greatest regret of his life.

As for Tang Wulin, after the brief moment of loss and shock, the feeling was quickly diluted by another kind of immense joy.

Because of the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver component he had just successfully forged, the association evaluated it and immediately gave him a full ten thousand Federal Coins as compensation!

This was a truly massive sum of money!

Clutching this money, Tang Wulin felt as if he were floating as he returned to the dormitory.

Pushing open the door, he saw Yao Chuan sitting cross-legged on his own bed, eyes closed in meditation, his breathing long and steady, with an indescribable aura of tranquility lingering around him.

Tang Wulin looked at Yao Chuan with eyes filled with complex emotions; shock, curiosity, admiration, and a sliver of stubbornness to catch up all eventually melted into pure reverence.

He walked to Yao Chuan's bed, his eyes shining brilliantly, his tone filled with immense sincerity: "Yao... Brother Yao Chuan!"

Yao Chuan slowly opened his eyes, those deep pupils looking at Tang Wulin with a hint of inquiry: "Hmm? What is it, Wulin? Why are you looking at me with that expression?"

"It's nothing, Brother Yao Chuan!" Tang Wulin hurriedly shook his head, his tone excited, "I just think you... you are too amazing! You're practically not human... ah, no, I mean, you are a god! You are my idol! From now on, I will definitely make you the goal I strive to catch up to!"

As he spoke, as if suddenly remembering something, he scrambled to pull that thick stack of Federal Coins from his pocket—the very ten thousand the association had just compensated him with.

Without hesitation, he pulled out about five thousand, held them in both hands, and clumsily but with absolute sincerity, offered them to Yao Chuan:

"Yao... Brother Yao Chuan! This... this is for you! If I hadn't known about your situation today, I might still be feeling smug! Thanks to you, I've learned that there is always someone better! This money... consider it a small token of my appreciation! Please, you must accept it!"

This was the simplest and most direct way he could think of to express his admiration and gratitude.

Xie Xie, who had been lying on his bed feigning sleep, couldn't help but let out a scoff upon hearing this. He lazily rolled over and glanced sideways at Tang Wulin: "I say, Wulin, you really don't understand how powerful our Brother Yao Chuan is."

He deliberately drew out his tone: "You think... this little bit of money means anything to Brother Yao Chuan?"

Tang Wulin's hand, still holding the money, froze in mid-air. Hearing this, he was stunned, his curiosity completely piqued: "Ah? Xie Xie, what do you mean by that? Brother Yao Chuan... he... just how strong is he?"

He looked at Xie Xie, then at Yao Chuan, his eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge.

Yao Chuan naturally would not take his money.

Watching the young man's sincere yet slightly foolish gesture, the corners of Yao Chuan's mouth curved imperceptibly, and he raised his hand to gently push the stack of money back.

His movement was casual and natural, carrying an air that brooked no argument.

"That's enough, Wulin. I appreciate your gesture, but this money is something you earned through your own hard work in forging, so keep it well. There will be many places you'll need money in the future."

He looked at Tang Wulin's ignorant yet inquisitive eyes, his tone calm but carrying a hint of imperceptible depth: "As for my strength..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, who was pricking up his ears to listen.

"At tomorrow's class meeting, you will naturally find out."

Tang Wulin let out an "oh" after hearing this. Although he felt a sliver of disappointment at not immediately learning the extent of Yao Chuan's strength, Yao Chuan's calm and powerful aura made him subconsciously choose to obey, and he didn't ask any further.

He silently put the money away.

The dormitory returned to silence.

But Tang Wulin's heart remained surging with emotion.